60+ Gaming Statistics To Know In 2024

In recent years, the gaming industry has experienced a surge, transforming from a niche hobby to a global cultural phenomenon. With millions of players across platforms and genres, video games have become a fundamental part of modern entertainment.

Behind this gaming revolution lies a treasure trove of data and insights that define player behavior, trends, and the impact of gaming on society. The Solitaired team has gone through the numbers beneath the pixels and explores how they shape the way we play, connect, and experience gaming in the 21st century.

Key Findings

• The global games market is projected to produce $205.7 billion in 2026.
• Out of the total online population, 8 in 10 people engage with games.
• The number of global players reached 3.3 million in 2023.
• More than 50% of players have made monetary transactions for games.
• 212.6 million Americans play video games at least one hour a week.

Contents

• Gaming Statistics Worldwide
• Gaming Market Statistics
• Gaming Across Generations
• U.S. Gaming Statistics
• eSports Statistics

Gaming Statistics Worldwide

To say gaming continues to be popular is an understatement. Nowadays, gaming is a widely enjoyed pastime across the globe, with millions of people enjoying it on various devices.

Out of the total online population, 8 in 10 people engage with games

The projections indicate that the total count of gamers utilizing PC, consoles, tablets, and smartphones will reach 3.6 billion by 2025. As the number of gamers increases, so does the number of games available.

In 2023, a staggering 12,209 new games were released on Steam only

Among these games, PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS takes first place, achieving the highest all-time peak number of players, with an impressive 3,257,248 players. In comparison, Palworld secured the second spot with 2,101,867 players.

The number of global players reached 3.3 million in 2023

The Asia-Pacific region has the majority of global players, with 1.7 million attributed to significant markets like India and China, as well as countries with strong gaming cultures such as Japan and South Korea.

More than 50% of players have made monetary transactions for games

The act of investing money in video games is widely prevalent. More than 50% of players have made monetary transactions for games.

Recently, with the rise of free-to-play (F2P) games, in-game transactions have become increasingly common. Publishers and developers of these games must provide captivating and valuable content to keep their player base engaged.

The global game consoles revenue is estimated to reach $26.2 billion in 2028

The income generated by Game Consoles worldwide is expected to reach $26.22 billion by 2028, which is an increase of $2.1 billion and a growth rate of 8.71% between 2024 and 2028. This revenue has been steadily rising over the last ten years.

Minecraft is the first video game to hit 300 million sales

Minecraft, an immensely successful video game, has achieved sales 300 million copies. Despite its initial distribution as a Java applet in its alpha version, the game has since expanded to 22 platforms and attracts a monthly active player base of up to 166 million.

Xbox live has over 120 million active users

While Xbox Live is a no-cost service, subscribing to Xbox Live Gold is recommended to fully unlock its potential for online gaming. It provides online play capabilities, perks like game purchase discounts, early access, and beta versions of newly launched titles.

The platform enjoys a combined user base of over 120 million active users across the free and paid segments. Additionally, Xbox will launch a mobile app store on Android in 2024.

Sony's PlayStation Plus has approximately 47.4 million subscribers

Sony's PlayStation Plus is only available as a paid subscription. This strategy allows Sony to provide a comprehensive suite of premium features and benefits to its dedicated user base. As of the latest count, PlayStation Plus has garnered an impressive and ever-growing subscriber count of approximately 47.4 million.

Nintendo has sold up to 109 million unit

Nintendo's gaming prowess shines through its remarkable console, the Nintendo Switch, which has captivated the gaming community with its innovative design and diverse game library.

The console's extraordinary success is underscored by its impressive 109 million unit sales. The Wii, an earlier Nintendo console, also remains a strong contender with a remarkable 101.63 million units sold. Nintendo is set to release their upcoming consoles in 2024, and they will also be launching a new 3D Mario game alongside it.

Honor of Kings stand out as the highest-grossing contenders on a global scale

Topping the charts for the highest-grossing smartphone games globally is "Honor of Kings," a captivating game that has amassed a staggering $864.32 million in revenue. A close second is "PUBG MOBILE," with $636.7 million, showcasing the enduring popularity of battle royale gameplay.

Subway Surfers secured the top position among Android gaming apps worldwide, with approximately 12.82 million downloads

Roblox followed closely behind, with 10.68 million downloads. The game "Indian Bikes Driving 3D" also gained significant popularity, amassing around 8.16 million downloads and making its mark among the leading Android gaming apps.

X-HERO dominated the iPhone gaming scene with 7.1 million downloads

The iPhone gaming landscape was dominated by X-HERO, claiming the top spot with a remarkable 7.1 million downloads. Survivor.io also achieved notable success, securing the second position with 4.6 million downloads.

Stumble Guys is the top iPad gaming app, with 2.3 million downloads

The landscape of popular iPad gaming apps was characterized by Stumble Guys, which claimed the top position with an impressive 2.3 million downloads, highlighting its widespread appeal among iPad users. Survivor.io secured the second spot with 1.1 million downloads.

Online card games like Spider Solitaire and FreeCell are expected to grow more in the digital segment than in the physical one

Online card games like Solitaire, Spider Solitaire and FreeCell are becoming increasingly popular, and the industry is likely to experience more growth in the digital segment than in the physical one. The overall earnings are expected to increase yearly by 11.98% between 2022 and 2027, leading to a forecasted market size of $22.45 billion by 2027.

Video gaming in China reached an impressive revenue of $90.21 billion

In 2022, video games generated substantial revenue in several countries, measured in billions of U.S. dollars. China led the pack with an impressive $90.21 billion, followed closely by the United States at $77.88 billion. Japan also contributed significantly, amassing $63.98 billion from the gaming industry.

Around half of players and viewers encountered new brands while participating in gaming activities

Video games have emerged as significant marketing instruments for numerous enterprises. Games allow brands to engage with their desired demographics through methods that surpass conventional advertising approaches. Approximately 50% of players and/or viewers encountered new brands while participating in gaming activities.

Gaming Market Statistics

With this surge in popularity and the impact of AI, the gaming market has become a lucrative industry with a huge potential for growth.

The global games market was estimated to reach $184 billion in 2023

In 2023, the global games market is expected to hit a whopping $184 billion, with the figure anticipated to rise even further in 2026 to a staggering $205.7 billion.

Tencent, Sony, and Apple are the top public companies by game revenues

Tencent ($7,4M), Sony ($3,4M), and Apple ($3,6M) are currently the top public companies by game revenues. These companies have been able to generate significant revenue through their respective gaming divisions.

Gaming Across Generations

Gaming is a common activity across all generations, and it continues to grow in popularity. People of all ages enjoy playing games, watching, socializing, and creating.

94% of Gen Alpha are game enthusiasts

Nine out of 10 Gen Alpha and Gen Z have played video games in one way or another. Although younger generations tend to be more involved with gaming than their older counterparts, video games are able to attract a broad audience across all age groups. Even among Baby Boomers, over 40% remain engaged with gaming.

Video games are the most popular form of entertainment among Gen Alpha and Gen Z

Gen Z dedicates approximately 7 hours and 20 minutes to gaming each week

Conversely, Baby Boomers engage in gaming for a mere two and a half hours per week, preferring to allocate a larger portion of their leisure time to conventional forms of entertainment.

U.S. Gaming Statistics

Gaming has become a massive industry in the United States over the past few decades. With the rise of online gaming and the proliferation of mobile devices, more and more Americans are enjoying video games as a form of entertainment.

Nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults play video games regularly

Video games have become an increasingly popular form of entertainment in the United States, with nearly two-thirds of adults and 76% of children under 18 regularly playing them.

96% of Americans see games as beneficial

American players believe gaming sharpens skills and stimulates the minds – even non-players recognize that. In addition, 88% say playing with others has helped them expand their social circle.

The leading categories of video game genres for all players are puzzle games (63%)

About 45% of gamers concur that video games provide them with the greatest return on investment compared to movies, television, or music.

U.S. Customers spend $56.6 billion on video games annually

The year-on-year spending reflects a substantial sum of $56.6 billion, underscoring the enduring appeal of the gaming industry. Among the categories, console-related spending accounts for $6.6 billion.

64% of Americans prefer to play games on mobile devices

When gaming, Americans seem to love mobile devices as they take the lead with a 64% usage rate. Consoles secure the second position at 54%.

Here are some other gaming facts about Americans

• 212.6 million Americans play video games at least one hour a week.
• 62% of American adults play video games.
• The average age of American video game players is 32.
• 53% of American video game players identify as male, 46% as female.

eSports Statistics

eSports pertains to structured competitions within video gaming, leading up to regional and global championships for both professional and non-professional gamers.

The global eSports market is projected to grow substantially over the next decade

In 2022, the market size stood at $1.45 billion, with projections indicating that the market will surge to a significant $6.75 billion by 2030.

The revenue of the eSports market stood at $1.3 million in 2022

The anticipated figures for 2025 reveal a notable advancement, with revenue expected to reach $1.8 million.

Top Countries for eSports

As many countries continue to excel and thrive within this competitive and rapidly evolving sector, eSports is emphasizing its international reach and economic significance.

The United States claims the top spot for eSports with an impressive $15.9 million

The global eSports landscape is dominated by the United States with a remarkable $15.9 million in earnings, while China closely follows in the second spot with significant earnings of $13.4 million.

The Bottom Line

The realm of gaming statistics provides a vivid snapshot of the dynamic landscape that gaming has evolved into. The data reveals the widespread engagement across various age groups and demographics and the shifting preferences in terms of devices and game genres.